Conference Venue

The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is superbly located on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River, close to the heart of the CBD and just 30 minutes from Melbourne's International Airport. The new Convention Centre is set to open in June 2009 and is part of a $1.4 billion development in South Wharf that includes a Hilton Hotel, lifestyle retail precinct and shopping space. It has received world wide acclaim for achieving a 6 Star Green Star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, the first in the world for a convention centre.

The modern complex is a landmark in the area, perched on the south bank of the Yarra River, and surrounded on all sides by trams, trains, buses, taxi ranks and ample car parking. A short stroll along the iconic Southbank Promenade places you in the heart of Melbourne city - Australia's culture, cuisine and events capital – where visitors can enjoy a perfect café latte by day or an award-winning local wine or microbrew by night.

The venue is an easy walking distance from a range of accommodation options, which will be available to delegates to book at the time of registering for the conference.

Melbourne Convention Centre
1 Convention Centre Place
South Wharf, Victoria 3006
www.mcec.com.au

Discover Melbourne

Visitors will find Melbourne an exciting city to explore. Modern architecture and design is juxtaposed with heritage buildings reflecting Australia's cultural history. But beneath the city's impressive façade, lies the true heart and soul of the city; laneways which snake the city grid to reveal cafes and bars, fashion houses, boutiques, innovative cuisine, galleries, theatres and museums.

Host City

Melbourne, located on the east coast, is the second largest city in Australia. Almost 4 million people live in the city, which has been voted The World's Most Liveable City on a number of occasions. Melbourne has a lively passion for social eating and drinking, which is reflected in the thousands of restaurants serving up gastronomic experiences from around the world. Everywhere you look you will uncover a vast array of fashionable cafes, where you can enjoy Melbourne's existential coffee and cafe culture to the fullest.

Shopping

Most shops in Melbourne are generally open from 0900 to 1700, Saturday to Wednesday and 0900 to 2100 Thursday to Friday. In all stores and shopping centres major credit cards are accepted and tax-free shopping is possible within the city. Walking is the best way to shop, especially along Melbourne's arcades and laneways. Outside the city centre, visit shopping precincts like Chapel Street in South Yarra, Acland Street in St Kilda and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, especially on weekends. Here you'll find everything from retro home wares to funky shops selling cult-in-the-making jewellery. These strips also have many street cafes.